Aquaplane



J. C. WOODIN Dec. 20, 1949 AQUAPLANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25,1947 J huh JNVENTOR. JOHN CHEEVER WOOD/N m% aww/ J. C. WOODIN Dec,20,1949

AQUAPLANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1947 I INVENTOR. JOHN CHEEVERWOOD/N BYM m, 1777 0117 Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES i ATENTOFFICE AQUAPLANE John Cheever Woodin, Middle River, Md.

Application July 25, 1947, Serial No. 763,665

Claims. (01. 114-665) This invention relates to boats and ships formarine uses and more particularly to a type of water vehicle, which istermed for purposes of identification in this specification, anaquaplane.

Boats and ships primarily float in the sea or water areas on the topsurface thereof. Hydroplanes have floats of suitable hollow form whichare used as temporary rest or floats, with the main body of thehydroplane out of the water and when the hydroplane is not performingits conventional traveling as a vehicle. The boats by reason of theirlarge surface contact with the water in which they travel, have toovercome considerable friction relatively, and this in turn requires theuse of power of considerable amounts when their speed is given anyappreciable increase. The principal objection therefore to the use ofconventional designs in boats and ships is that they cannot be driven athigh speeds unless they have large power plants and the necessary fuelto supply them. These last requirements inherently increase theobstruction to an increase in speed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved marine vehicle that will avoid one or more of the disadvantagesand limitations of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved marinevehicle that will decrease its relative frictional resistance to a lowerproportion than that of the conventional forms of boats and ships as itincreases in speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved motorvehicle that will ride relatively smoothly, while at the same timehaving adequate control of its navigational features.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully setforth.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, its principles and theobjects thereof, reference is directed to the appended drawings, whichtogether with the following description describe a particular form ofthe invention. This form is intended to illustrate the invention as anexample and not as a limitation as to its structure, while the claimsemphasize the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aquaplane embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure l,

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation of the aft lifting gear and shearingpin,

Figure 5 is a plan taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a section taken along line 66 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a plan view taken on line l-l' of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is an enlarged elevation of the reversing mechanism,

Figure 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is an enlarged section of the slip ring sleeve, and

Figure 11 is a section taken along lines Il--ll of Figure 10.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

In the structure shown in the drawings, ill represents the body of aship, boat or aquaplane. It is of a tear-drop contour with the forwardor front section III enlarged and with the tapered end for the stern oraft section 24 as shown in Figure 1. The front section H is providedwith windows i2 to permit observation by the pilot while he is drivingthe vehicle. Seats M are installed in the section II for the pilot touse and convenient to the operation of pedals It and a wheel stick IT.The pedals It and the wheel I1 are connected to their respectivemechanisms to operate the parts of the aquaplane so it can perform itsfunctions in accordance with the wishes of the operator. The engine orpower plant [8 for operating the propeller E9 of the aquaplane islocated in the power room 20 suitably positioned in the body It. Themechanism 2i connects the power plant 18 with the propeller Ill. Thismechanism is of a general conventional form except that it is necessaryto extend it from the body iii to reach the drift tube 22 on whichpropeller I 9 is rearwardly mounted.

The drift tube 22 is attached to a relatively thin plate centerboardpylon 23' that extends vertically down from the keel 28 of body Hi. Itis longer than the centerboard 23 which latter has its front end portion29 and rear end portion 30 tapered to reduce frictional resistance. Thepropeller i9 is mounted on this drift tube 22 and rotates on it asindicated. The drift tube 22 in general is of a streamline contour. Thecenterboard pylon is of rectangular form and extends from a point behindthe forward section II to a point towards the rear 2 3 that will makeits total length about one-half that of the aquaplane. A rudder 3! ismounted in the rear of the centerboard pylon 23 above the drift tube 22and is hinged to operate on a vertical axis, with limit stops to controlthe extent of its movement. A pair of aligned vanes .34 situatedhorizontally on both sides of the drift 3 tube '22 near the middlethereof, serve with their movable water foils 35 to control the depth ofthe centerboard pylon 23 in the water, as well as assist in turning andstabilizing the aquaplane Ill. The waterfoils 35 are normallyhorizontal, and are operated through the mechanism 36 by the pilot.

The general accessories such as gyrostabilizers 31 and other equipmentmay be included in the aquaplane to suit the conditions and needs of thelatter. The centerboard 23 may be raised to avoid obstructions orgrounding. The space employed for such movement does not interfere withthe apparatus on board the aquaplane or the pilot. The position of theapparatus used to raise the centerboard 23, is arranged about a housing40. The various mechanisms are provided with splines and slip jointswherever required to enable the parts to function properly and adjustthemselves to whichever position the centerboard pylon may be in.

As the aquaplane is propelled at a slow speed through the water by thepropeller 19 with all controls in normal position for horizontaltravelling the vehicle floats through the water at: its normal level dueto its weight and the water conditions, which is on about the level A.Then as the speed in increased to crusing speed and the water foils orailerons 35 tilted to an appropriate angle, the aquaplane rises in thewater until the level B is reached. The water foils 35 are thenstraightened out so the speed of the craft will keep it at the level B.At this level the frictional contact of the boat with the water will begreatly reduced and the resistance lowered. This is especially true whenthe body rises above the water level. If the water foils 35 are tiltedthe opposite way they will tend to make the. boat press with morepressure against the water and increase the frictional resistance. Theboat will not submerge but simply press heavier against the surface ofthe water due to the slightly increased depth it will sink to in thewater.

Another feature of the structure shown is that the centerboard pylon 23is made in two sections, the upper Hi and lower l respectively. They areheld together by semi-soft shearing pins 38 which slide in an elongatedslot 40 each time the lower section 55 is raised or lowered through theaction of its rack gear 4! and spur gear 42. The gear 42, is mounted ona shaft 52 and is turned by sprocket 53 and turned by chain 43 driven bysprocket M. The sprocket ill is mounted on a shaft 50 and rotated by abevel gear 5! meshed with a bevel gear %5 attached to shaft 46 of theelectric motor 4-]. A chain 48 is driven by a sprocket similar tosprocket id and drives a sprocket gear 42 to raise and lower the forwardend of the counterboard pylon 23 in a manner similar to that shown foroperating the rear end.

The mechanism 2i comprises a splined driving shaft 25 and key 53 whichis rotated by the engine i6 and slides in and out of a collar 26. Thecollar 25 is attached to a short shaft 2! which drives a bevel gear 54.A pair of bevel gears 55 and 56 are slidably mounted on a propellershaft 5'! having a key 65. The rotation of the propeller I9 iscontrolled by the shiiting of bevel gears 55 and 56 into contact withthe driving bevel gear 54 at periodic intervals. The gears 55 and 55 aremounted on a single collar and shifted through the operation of a collar58 and fork 64. The fork 64 with its arm 59 is mounted on a pin 60 andoperated back and forth through a cable 62 moving over wheel ill to alever 62.

The rudder I9 is operated by pedals l 6 attached by cables 56 to a crossarm 61 mounted on a shaft 68 which operates a sliding collar 69 which issimilar in construction to collar 26. The shaft H1 is attached to thelower end of the sliding collar 69 and the rudder 3|.

The mechanism 36 for operating the waterfoils 35 comprises a lever Hwhich is operated by the wheel I! by a cable 12 which run over wheels13. A gasoline tank 74 supplies fuel to the engine l8 and batteries 15furnish the electric current for lighting and starting etc. An exhaustpipe 16 carries the exhaust from the engine through the aft section 24.A pendulum or pressure sensitive tube 1'! is positioned in the front ofthe boat to determine the depth the boat is at the moment.

The form shown has several advantages over the conventional forms ofships. It is non-capsizing as the pylon will resist such a tendency. Itwill steer a straightercourse. It will navigate more readily and thevanes will enable it to ride at a level that will afford the greatestefficiency. The adjustments afforded by the waterfoils 35 on the vanes36 will enable it to establish a level in the water that is mostsuitable for smooth sailing. The addition of the pylon str cture 2.3 anddrift tube 22 does not increase the cost of building the aquaplaneexcessively and such increase in cost as may arise will be readilyrecompensed by the increase in efficiency and reduction of operationalcosts.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specifications, it is not desired to limit thisapplication for patent to. this particular form or in any other wayotherwise than limited by the scope or" the claims, as it is appreciatedthat other forms of construction could be made that would use the sameprinciples and come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An aquaplane comprising in combination, a body, a multi-partcenterboard pylon extending down from said body below the normal levelof the body into the water, a drift tube mounted on said pylon andextending longitudinally thereon, means on the said drift tube forpropelling the body through the water and mechanism for open ating saidmeans, a rudder on said pylon for guiding the body through the water,vanes on the side of the pylon for facilitating the operation of theaquaplane through the water, waterfoils on the vanes for controlling theposition of the body in the water, mechanisms for operating saidwaterfoils and rudder controlled from inside the body, and means foradjusting the position of one of the parts of the pylon with respect tothe other of said parts.

2. An aquaplane comprising in combination, a body, a multi-partcenterboard pylon extending down from said body below the normal levelof the body into the Water, a drift tube mounted on said pylon andextending longitudinally thereon, means on the said drift tube formoving the body through the water and mechanism for operating saidmeans, a rudder on said pylon for guiding the body through the water,vanes on the side of t 1e pylon for facilitating the operation of theaquaplane through the Water, waterfoils on the vanes for controlling theposition of the body in the water, mechanisms for operating saidwaterioils and rudder controlled from inside the body, means foradjusting the position of one of the parts of the pylon with respect tothe other of said parts, and means in said mechanisms for allowingadjustments therein in accordance with the position of the pylon.

3. An aquaplane comprising in combination, a body, a multi-partcenterboard pylon extending down from said body below the normal levelof the body into the water, a drift tube mounted on said pylon andextending longitudinally thereon, means on the said drift tube formoving the body through the water, a rudder on said pylon for guidingthe body through the Water, vanes on the side of the pylon forfacilitating the operation of the aquaplane through the water,waterfoils on the vanes for controlling the position of the body in thewater, mechanisms for operating said waterfoils and rudder operated frominside the body, means for adjusting the position of one of the parts ofthe pylon with respect to the other of said parts means in saidmechanisms for allowing adjustments therein in accordance with theposition of the pylon, and means for holding said pylon to permit itsshearing off if the aquaplane strikes a substantial obstruction.

4. An aquaplane comprising in combination, a body, a multi-partcenterboard pylon extending down from said body below the normal levelof the body into the water, a drift tube mounted on said pylon andextending longitudinally thereon, a propeller on the said drift tube formoving the body through the water and mechanism for operating saidpropeller, a rudder on said pylon for guiding the body through thewater, vanes on the side of the pylon for facilitating the operation ofthe aquaplane through the water, waterfoils on the vanes for controllingthe position of the body in the water, mechanisms for operating saidwaterfoils and rudder operated from inside the body, means for adjustingthe position of one of the parts of the pylon with respect to the otherof said parts, means in said mechanism for allowing adjustments thereinin accordance with the position of the pylon, means for holding saidpylon to permit its shearing off if the aquaplane strikes a substantialobstruction, said drift tube being relatively small in diameter andtapered towards its ends to lessen frictional resistance thereof.

5. An aquaplane comprising in combination, a body, a multi-partcenterboard pylon extending down from said body below the'normal levelof the body into the water, a drift tube mounted on said pylon andextending longitudinally thereon, means on the said drift tube formoving the body through the water, a rudder on said pylon for guidingthe body through the water, vanes on the side of the pylon forfacilitating the operation of the aquaplane through the Water,waterfoils on the vanes for controlling the position of the body in thewater, mechanisms for operating said waterfoils and rudder operated frominside the body, means for adjusting the position of one of the parts ofthe pylon with respect to the other of said parts, means in saidmechanisms for allowing adjustments therein in accordance with theposition of the pylon, means for holding said pylon to permit itsshearing off if the aquaplane strikes a substantial obstruction, saiddrift tube being relatively small in diameter and tapered towards itsends to lessen frictional resistance thereof, said vanes being arrangedwith their underside relatively flat and upper surfaces slightly arcuateand directed to flow towards said waterfoils.

JOHN CHEEVER WOODIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 800,184 Stola Sept. 26, 1905920,849 Fauber May 4, 1909 1,736,896 Yamanouchi Nov. 26, 1929 1,780,998Curohi Nov. 11, 1930 1,858,582 ,Fahrney May 17,. 1932 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 835 Great Britain Jan. 13,. 1903 590,270 GermanyJan. 4, 1934 602,526 Germany Sept. 11, 1934

